By KPC Reporter
Members of the National Assembly drawn from the West of Rift tea-growing region have accused the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) of corruption and mismanagement following discrepancies in the 2025 tea bonus payments.
They now want an ad-hoc committee be formed to investigate the operations agency.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, Agriculture and Livestock Committee vice-chairperson Brighton Yegon said over 700,000 farmers have been shortchanged despite their hard work in producing world-class tea.
He cited inflated production costs, questionable firewood procurement, bloated staff expenses, and manipulation of weighing scales as examples of malpractice within KTDA.
“In Kenya, tea is the second-largest foreign exchange earner. Last year alone, tea exports were worth Ksh 215 billion,” Yegon said.
“Sixty-eight percent of national production comes from the West of Rift, yet farmers here continue to receive dismal returns. This is unacceptable.”
The MPs demanded blind or scientific tea testing at the auction to curb bias and ensure fairness.
They also called for a more balanced representation model at KTDA, noting that East of Rift farmers currently enjoy disproportionate influence.
“In 2025, we cannot rely on the mouth as the only tasting instrument. We must adopt scientific methods,” said Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisario.
“Once this ad-hoc committee is formed, we will dismantle the cartels once and for all.”
They further decried the imbalance in brokerage representation, noting that out of 13 brokerage firms at the Mombasa auction, only one originates from the West of Rift, despite the region contributing 68 percent of national output.
The legislators demanded fair licensing, the disbandment of the tea trade association, and a transparent farmer-led process in marketing reforms.
The MPs also urged the House Business Committee to fast-track the Tea Amendment Bill, currently at its second reading stage in the National Assembly.
Nandi Hills MP Benard Kitur added: “Tea from the West of Rift is among the best globally, yet it receives the worst ratings at the Mombasa auction. This injustice must be corrected.”
The legislators were drawn from Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Nandi, and Nyamira counties.